ABSTRACT
The introductory chapter will introduce the topic of the Handbook and explain the role of the International Handbook of Fat Studies. It will provide a brief overview of the history of Fat Studies as a field, highlighting key texts, symposiums, and conferences. It will also note the important role that fat activism has always played in the construction of knowledge of fat bodies and the emergence of the discipline of Fat Studies. Lastly, the intro will consider ways forward for the field, highlighting threats to Fat Studies scholarship and opportunities.
